When the Taycan arrived in full production form in 2019, the first electric vehicle from Porsche quickly became one of the best-selling luxury EVs on the market. In its early months, the German automaker delivered more than 20,000 units. By 2021, Porsche Taycan was available in an array of impressive motor configurations with both sedan and station wagon body styles offered.
In 2022, Porsche managed to increase worldwide deliveries by 2.6%, even with the global supply chain problems that hurt other automakers. Even so, sales of the all-electric Taycan dropped 23% in 2022 to 7,271 units. Why is Porsche struggling to deliver its popular EV?
A sizable drop in Taycans produced
Porsche Taycan | Sjoerd van der Wal via Getty Images
In January, Porsche announced a slight increase in sales in 2022 despite many global crises. The automaker delivered 309,884 vehicles in 2022, which was a 3% increase from 2021. Its Taycan sales, according to Porsche’s January press release, remained at high levels, with 34,801 units delivered globally. Even so, Taycan sales notably dropped 16% from the previous year.
Taycan is a high-demand luxury EV for a few reasons, according to Top Speed. It’s highly versatile with almost unlimited customization options if you have the money for a real personalized luxury car experience. Its strong performance numbers rival those of supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. It was also the first production vehicle to utilize 800-volt technology.
Porsche’s first all-electric car has a lot to offer. But are some of those popular features the reason the automaker is struggling to get production numbers up?
Many global crises
Porsche reported 79,260 deliveries in North America in 2022, which was on par with 2021. Of that, only 7,271 Taycans were delivered in the U.S., a disappointing drop of 23% from the 9,419 units delivered in 2021, according to InsideEVs.
According to Detlev von Platen, Executive Board Member for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG, a few factors caused a decrease in Taycan sales.
“The many challenges caused by the war in Ukraine, interrupted supply chains, and the ongoing semiconductor crisis have shaped the past year and put us to the test,” he stated in the press release. He explained that he was proud of the entire team for succeeding in making the dream of owning a Porsche a reality for many in the face of a challenging environment.
The automaker views it as a strong showing despite logistical and supply challenges faced at the beginning of the year. Porsche stated that the demand for its EV remained strong even with supply chain issues slowing deliveries. The statement suggests a hope that 2023 will possibly be a better production year for Taycan.
High praise from critics and consumers alike
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While the Porsche Taycan is an expensive luxury EV, the demand for it remains high. Customers and industry experts alike give it high marks for its customization options, performance, and more.
According to Top Speed, in the U.S., the 2023 model year will offer 10 Taycan models. While the lower trims are a bit limited, once you get to the Porsche Taycan 4S, it’s available as both sedan and Cross Turismo with 375 hp standard and 469 hp with Launch Control, the automaker’s advanced driving assistance system, active. The higher trims offer even more power.
Porsche has always been generous with appearance options. The standard exterior finish is black or white, but numerous metallic colors, special colors, appearance packages, and more exist. On the inside, there are nearly as many interior options, including five that are leather-free. You can even specify the brakes and LED headlights you’d like to have on Taycan.
Regarding performance, the base model Taycan isn’t the fastest EV. But, according to Top Speed, the Taycan 4S can go from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds. The Porsche Taycan Turbo, however, can run with the supercars. Turbo models can reach 60 mph from 0 in 3.0 seconds, with Turbo S models only needing 2.6 seconds. It can’t match Tesla Model S Plaid, reaching 60 mph in 1.99 seconds, but it can outrun the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.
Keyword: Porsche Is Having a Hard Time Delivering on the Popular Taycan